I’ll never be young again. A short story.

“That’s your bed made. What else shall I do? Remember, this is my last visit,” called the carer, her cheerful sing-song voice echoing around the empty hall.“I know, I haven’t forgotten, so there is a gift on the kitchen table.” Emily had heard such negative stories about carers, but Amy was delightful. The granddaughter sheContinue reading “I’ll never be young again. A short story.”

Misty Mornings

Summer days at Casa Batan almost always begin with shrouds of mist. Misty mornings that come before the heat of the day takes hold are one of the privileges of living here. It covers over mountain topsand hides the rolling hills.And winds its way up riversdimming swirls and rills It dances through the forestwith theContinue reading “Misty Mornings”

The baker’s shop. A memoir.

Almost all the happy memories I have of my childhood revolve around food. My mum enjoyed cooking and my dad enjoyed eating. Not only was my mother an excellent cook, but she was an extrovert, sociable hostess and, in the early sixties, these were admirable qualities.Memory is fickle and changes with family stories and perception,Continue reading “The baker’s shop. A memoir.”

The mystery of the metallic manure.

When we moved to the Galicia fourteen years ago, we had never lived in the countryside before. We couldn’t speak either the local Galician language used by our neighbours or Castilian Spanish. Over the years, there have been many misunderstandings because of both language and lack of rural experience. I can’t hope to explain howContinue reading “The mystery of the metallic manure.”